The return of ground effect with the new generation of Formula 1 single-seaters in 2022 has brought back a negative phenomenon that has hurt some teams more than others.
This problem reached a new peak during the last weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as the drivers admitted to having many problems due to the rebound of their cars against the asphalt of the street circuit, especially at the end of the long main straight. .
Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell spoke of a safety concern, while AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly said the FIA needed to find a solution to “prevent us ending up with a cane in our 30s”.
Currently Red Bull is one of the teams that least suffers from this phenomenon. Max Verstappen won and led the Austrian team’s double in Baku unchallenged, extending his lead and that of the structure in both championships.
It was the first time Red Bull drivers had placed first and second in the drivers’ standings since 2011, while their lead in the constructors’ championship is already 80 points over Ferrari.
Speaking of the drivers’ meeting seeking a rule tweak to eliminate porpoise, Red Bull principal Horner explained that teams “can always fit a thicker board in the bottom of the car if they want” and that “The easiest thing is obviously to lift the car.”
“You have the option to configure your car, don’t you?” Horner said. “You should never put your car in a place that is not safe. But I think that is more work for the technicians. Because some cars have problems and others have very few problems.
“Therefore, it would seem unfair to me to penalize the teams that have done a better job, compared to those that have perhaps missed the target a little bit,” said the Briton.
Horner believes the FIA should only intervene if it is “a general grid-wide safety issue”.
“But if it’s only affecting a few isolated people or teams, then that’s something that team would have to deal with on their own,” he said.
During the race weekend in Baku, it became known that the teams rejected a proposal last year to increase the minimum height of the cars from 2022.
But the latest statements by the drivers, in which they have been very concerned about their safety, have brought the issue back into the spotlight.
Asked what he would say to his drivers if Red Bull had porpoise problems, Horner said: “I would tell them to complain as much as they can on the radio”, acknowledging that it is “part of the game”.
“There are solutions to porpoising, but they are detrimental to the performance of the car,” said Horner.
“Then the easiest thing is to complain. Each team has an option,” concluded the Red Bull man .
